Just curious: how do you become a bike mechanic in Australia? A quick Google search says there was a TAFE course, now discontinued as it's considered a 'lifestyle' course, or a course in Oregon (U.S.A.). Is there a training centre or some kind of apprenticeship system?

squeakywheel wrote:Just curious: how do you become a bike mechanic in Australia? A quick Google search says there was a TAFE course, now discontinued as it's considered a 'lifestyle' course, or a course in Oregon (U.S.A.). Is there a training centre or some kind of apprenticeship system?

TAFE courses do still come up, but on a very infrequent basis. Having a basic mechanical aptitude goes a very long way - it's how I learnt the vast majority of my stuff! In fact, I have no formal certification from any educational institution; the closest thing I have is specialist training in Rock Shox suspension servicing provided by SRAM Australia (these courses are only offered to people already in the industry, not the general public).

There is a swag of tutorial stuff all over the place, which most people learn a lot from, but like any skill, there are some people who can have all the theory in the worls stuffed in their head, but just can't put into practise - and yes, some of them wind up working in bike shops....

correct duck,skweekywheels bicycle mechanics is not that hard for someone who likes yousing tool,exseptions are wheels and setting the ride position,wheels need allot of consentration and take time to master,but we arenot all the same,you never no until you dont try,bicycle assembly is not an opinion,wheel biulding is not an opinion,but when we by a bike in most cases it is assemble based on opinions,even the wheels.i thak all the people that but there bikes on the foot as free bee,its from free bikes i learnt to be mechanicly indipendant,may start from there,a cheep bike and 36 spoke wheels,if spokes are made from steel even better.

Duck! wrote:....and yes, some of them wind up working in bike shops....

The rest of us just regurgitate theory back up on forums such as this as if we're the experts A bit of self deprecation there, Duck! and not a dig at you. It becomes more obvious after a while who contributes from hard experience on this and other forums. I'm not talking watching a video on particular task, then performing it on your own bike - but rather doing that and a myriad of other tasks day in, day out on other peoples bikes of varying quality and technology. That sort of breadth of experience.

@squeakywheel : it's an unregulated industry; unlike say being a Doctor, Dentist or Lawyer. A course may help, but natural aptitude and experience counts for a lot more. If you can edge your way into some work experience in a LBS that'd help and do something for your cred towards the next job if you decide to stick with it.

It's probably a bit like Management. The portion of people who are professional bike mechanics who shouldn't really be professional bike mechanics is probably a little too high. It was inconsistency of service I received originally that drove me to learn myself and forge myself a new hobby. That said, if I had to do it for a living I'd soon learn to hate it.

first of all pardon my spelling.iv only bought 2 bikes in my life from new and on both the tension of the spokes was all over the place.wheel hubs slitly over tight one of the bikes had the bearing casing dammaged in the head stem.and thay where not bottom end bikes or entrey level.and no basic ride possition fitting was offerd.sorry but the attitude is like (give us the money take the bike and get out of here)but the marketting strategy is verry refined.

squeakywheel wrote:Just curious: how do you become a bike mechanic in Australia? A quick Google search says there was a TAFE course, now discontinued as it's considered a 'lifestyle' course, or a course in Oregon (U.S.A.). Is there a training centre or some kind of apprenticeship system?

If you are thinking of taking it on, let me warn you from years of experience in the automotive industry that dealing with the public can be a frustrating and thankless task.

being a pure blooded honest all rounder bicycle mechanich with a little give is just what bicycle industry really needs there are some but we need moore.any one got some thing against that?well putt your name down and just kick me out of here!

squeakywheel wrote:Just curious: how do you become a bike mechanic in Australia? A quick Google search says there was a TAFE course, now discontinued as it's considered a 'lifestyle' course, or a course in Oregon (U.S.A.). Is there a training centre or some kind of apprenticeship system?

If you are thinking of taking it on, let me warn you from years of experience in the automotive industry that dealing with the public can be a frustrating and thankless task.

I think it depends on the usage... cars are mostly just transport and most people don't really have that much of a personal connection to their car. If it's someones pride and joy, bicycle or car then it might be a different story. Being back in the motorbike trade working only on peoples pride and joy , I can say it's not thankless at all

@TOOLONGLEGS bonding with your ride trust mastering every aspect of the ride,respect and looking after,anticipating the wild ride in the movementbasicly it all comes down to bonding,no matter what you ride or drive,its how your convidance is

Not really sure what your saying Hedgehog, all I am saying in relation to some mechanics jobs is that they probably are pretty thankless, especially in the auto trade... But that certain mechanics jobs are not. I have looked after my own bicycles for 20 or 30 years... They aren't very complicated but then I am a motorcycle mechanic so can fix most things. If I can't a couple of questions n here points me in the right direction If I had my time over again I would have expanded my fitter / turner and welding experience and would have enjoyed making my own.

Traditionally a mechanic learns hands-on in a bike shop. The problem with the Tafe Course was that it was really long.

Bicycle Industries Australia - the trade organisation for bike business in Australia is seeking to bring Cytech Training to Australia. This is a UK system which has become a recognisable standard, both for shops hiring and also for customers looking for good shops - a bit like a quality mark.

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